Improvement in inkstands



WILLIAM C. TILD E N.

lnkstand.

Patented April 30, 1872.

13 mm for,

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT m INKSTANDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,348, dated April30, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. TILDEN, of Washington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented a new and Improved Stopper or Gover for Vesselsdesigned tohold fluids, of which the following is a specification:

The nature and objects of my invention are the use of a cover or stopperso contrived as to prevent the. spilling of liquids which may be held inthe vessels so covered or stopped, and to avoid, in a great degree,evaporation or fouling at the same time that the vessels or instrumentsthus protected are open, in the case of an inkstand, to the pen, or, inthat of a milk-pail or slop-jar, to fresh additions of fluid.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a transverse section of aninkstand embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section ofanother form of the same, intended to be carried in the pocket. -Fig. 3is a transverse section of a milking-pail covered in a similar manner.Fig. 4 is a side elevation of an inkstand thus made, for table use.

In each of them A represents the stoppers or covers, which, as appliedand in combination, for the purposes to be stated, constitute myinvention.- This stopper or cover is made of tin, brass, bronze, iron,glass, or any suitable material. It consists substantially of an innertruncated cone, d d c, of variable shape, and an outer and superior one,a b. The inner cone or cones extend from the shoulder 01 d nearly to thebottom of the vessel, and are contracted throughout their lower portionsaccording to the depth of the vessel. The outer cone extends only so fardownward as is necessary for it to engage fully within the inner andlower cone. Its external opening may be of any size relatively to thatof the inner cone, but it is better that it be smaller. Its loweropening b should be as small as the use for which it is intended willadmit. The angles formed with the perpendicular by the sides of thesetwo series of imperfect cones should be such as experience shows to actbest in the case of different liquids. This point I have settled for thespecial uses for which I design this invention. The mode of applying orjoinin g these stoppers or covers to the vessels may be by a screw, aground shoulder, by packing, or by any approved luting or cement. Whenpermanently fastened it is necessary to make an aperture just below d dfor the purpose of expeditiously filling the body. The vessel itself maybe of any desired shape or size or pattern.

The operation of such a stopper or cover is evident. When a vessel thusclosed is suddenly inverted the main portion of fluid contained isprevented from overflowing by the length of the perforated stopper,while that between the two cones, in the stopper, is caught by theinclined planes and carried into the pocket formed by their union. Thisis found to be the result in all cases, no change of position nor themost violent upsetting causing the escape of a drop of liquid.

In the inkstands thus made are these notable points of advantage: First,the impossibility of spilling when overturned. Second, the level of inkin the body of the stand does not affect the level in the ink-well orstopper. The pressure upon the surface of ink caused by a slightcondensation of air at the moment of the fixing of the stopper, andaided by capillarity, suflices to keep the ink constantly at d d. Third,it is plain that all considerable evaporation is prevented, and that theink in the stopper can be renewed, when thick, by lifting the latter outand replacing it. Fourth, the pen cannot soil the fingers, because ofits limited dip in every direction.

Claim.

What I claim, and desire to secure as my invention by Letters Patent,is-- The combination of the two cones or conoidal shapes b and c, ortheir equivalents, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forthand described.

' WILLIAM C. TILDEN.

Witnesses:

J. W. HALL, T. O. BREcHT.

